Dog rescued from 100 degree car

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Multnomah County Animal Control Officer Christian Holden was showing KATU how he patrols and checks for pets in hot cars, when he got the call.

There was a puppy in a car, windows rolled up for at least 30 minutes. Holden knew that meant it had to be at least 100 degrees inside.

When KATU arrived at the scene, Holden found the puppy on the passenger’s side.

“It was trying to get under the seat, out of the sun,” Holden told KATU. “It got up to 100 pretty quickly. The dog wasn’t super responsive to me so I felt at this time, since it was getting pretty warm out here, it was best to get the dog out of the vehicle.”

The owners had no idea the car could be so dangerous in temperatures in the 80s. A mother and son were alerted by police to come outside, where the 11-year-old boy opened the car door.

The dog, a schnoodle named “Bear” was OK after a little air conditioning and water from animal control. The animal’s owner received a $100 citation. Bear went back home, but without his owner getting a warning and a citation that does not allow him in the car for a full year.

Multnomah County Animal Control is just one of many agencies getting multiple calls every day during this hotter stretch of weather. Washington County Animal Control told KATU it’s averaging three to four calls every day.

The temperature can be 78 degrees outside, and the temperature inside a car can climb to 105 degrees in 20 minutes.

A pet can suffer heat stroke, seizures, and other symptoms. And too much time in a hot car can kill.

If you see a pet in a hot car, call police. Do not try to rescue the animal on your own as you could be held liable for damages to the vehicle.